System and method for generating a plan to complete a task in computing environment

ABSTRACT

A system and method for generating a plan to complete a task by providing a framework facilitating use of heterogeneous data sources without altering a planning algorithm are disclosed. The method includes using a first dataset of logical atoms represented in predicate schema and second dataset of database atoms represented in non-predicate schema, and modifying a grammar rule, a domain definition, and a problem definition, and selecting and executing task methods and task operators to complete a task. Execution of task operator includes verifying a precondition, assigning variables with values when the precondition is valid, and modifying (delete and add) a plan state. Execution of the task method includes verifying a precondition of the task method, assigning variables with values when the precondition is valid, decomposing the task into sub-tasks, assigning arguments of task method to sub-tasks, and adding sub-tasks to a task list. Thereafter, a plan is generated.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND PRIORITY

The present application claims priority to Indian Patent Application No.2879/MUM/2013, filed on Sep. 5, 2013, the entirety of which is herebyincorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present subject matter described herein, in general, relates tointelligent systems for planning, and more particularly to planningsystems for generating a plan in a computing environment.

BACKGROUND

In the field of artificial intelligence, planning is a process ofselecting and organizing actions by considering expected outcomes orgoals. In a planning process, the plan state denotes a state of theworld and is represented as a set of state facts. During the planningprocess, the plan state undergoes changes as determined by postconditions of actions included in a plan. The planning system has toselect and execute a set of actions in order to reach a goal state.

Current planning techniques, or particularly plan state representationtechniques, suffer from many limitations such as practicability,scalability, and modularity. In a real world scenario, the planningsystem needs to access a collection of information available fromheterogeneous data sources. The heterogeneous data sources includedatabases, ontology, application program interface calls, and webservices, and the like. However, the current planning techniques do notconsider heterogeneity of information in the plan state. Hence, thepracticability limitation in the planning systems is not solved. Inpractical cases, the plan state may be enormously large, which in turnmay affect performance of the planning system. As an example, the HTN(Hierarchical Task Network) planner, JSHOP2 (a Java implementation ofSimple Hierarchical Ordered Planner), suffers from scalability problembecause the plan state has a large number of state facts represented ina monolithic predicate-based schema. Further, during planning, acomplete set of information is loaded into the memory of the planningsystem, whereas only a part of the complete set of information isactually required at various points of execution in the generation ofthe plan. Hence the loading of a large amount of information into thememory of the planning system leads to a scalability problem.

In general, data sources follow a modularity approach. For example, datacomprising weather information, road information, and transportinformation may be maintained in database systems. Further, separatetables may be used to store the data. Therefore, a change in one moduleor a table does not affect the change in other modules or tables of thedatabase systems. The current plan state representation does not followthe modularity approach as the information in the plan state ispresented using the monolithic predicate-based schema.

Further, conventional planning techniques do not provide optimized useof data during generation of the plan. The conventional planningtechniques use the monolithic predicate-based schema for the plan staterepresentation wherein a world state is described as a set of predicatesthat are currently true. On the contrary, in reality the world state hasto be obtained by aggregating information from different modular sourcesrepresented through multiple knowledge representation techniques.Further, performance of the planning system may be affected when thesize of the plan state is enormously large. Thus, the conventionalplanning techniques face many challenges in providing an efficient andoptimized plan state representation during plan generation.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce aspects related to systems andmethods. A system for generating a plan to complete a task in acomputing environment and the aspects thereof are further describedbelow in the detailed description. This summary is not intended toidentify essential features of the claimed subject matter nor is itintended for use in determining or limiting the scope of the claimedsubject matter.

In one implementation, a method for optimal representation of a planstate while generating a plan to complete a task in a computingenvironment, where the optimal representation of the plan state improvesefficiency of the computing environment through improved utilization ofmemory and reduction of overhead from data retrieval is described. Themethod includes providing a processor and a non-transitory memorycoupled to the processor, where the non-transitory memory includesprogrammed instructions. A plan state is represented, the plan stateincluding one or more tasks and including a first dataset and a seconddataset, where the second dataset is received from one or moreheterogeneous data sources. The first dataset includes logical atomsrepresented in a predicate-based schema, and the second dataset includesdatabase atoms represented in a non-predicate-based schema. The logicalatoms indicate dynamically-varying data to be accessed frequently, andthe database atoms indicate static data. A database atom of the seconddataset is represented with a path that facilitates selective access ofthe database atoms from the one or more heterogeneous data sources. Theprocessor iteratively selects one or more task methods from a set ofpredefined task methods and one or more task operators from a set ofpredefined task operators, based on the one or more tasks to becompleted, to define one or more selected task methods and one or moreselected task operators. The processor successively executes theselected task methods and the selected task operators in order tocomplete the task. The execution of each of the selected task methodsand each of the selected task operators includes validating a firstprecondition associated with the selected task method and a secondprecondition associated with the selected task operator, by matching afirst set of variables associated with the selected task method and asecond set of variables associated with the selected task operator, withat least one of the logical atoms and the database atoms, and whereinmatching of the database atoms is facilitated using the path. Theexecution further includes assigning, if the first precondition isvalid, the first set of variables with a first set of values, andassigning, if the second precondition is valid, the second set ofvariables with a second set of values, where the first set of values andthe second set of values are obtained from one or more logical atoms ofthe first dataset and one or more database atoms of the second dataset,so matched with the first set of variables and the second set ofvariables, respectively. The method further includes executing theselected task method using the first set of values and the selected taskoperator using the second set of values, and generating, via theprocessor, a plan based upon the execution of the selected task methodsand the selected task operators.

The representation of the database atoms in the non-predicate-basedschema and the selective access of the database atoms from the one ormore heterogeneous data sources using the path makes the plan statescalable, practical and modular. Cache memory is used to store thedatabase atoms so fetched. The logical atoms indicating dynamicallyvarying data continually resides in the memory during the generation ofthe plan, whereas the database atoms indicating the static data isselectively loaded in the memory only when required during thegeneration of the plan, thereby facilitating optimal utilization of thememory and reducing data retrieval overhead during the generation of theplan. The one or more heterogeneous data sources comprise databases,ontologies, application program interface calls, and web services.

In one implementation, a system is described for optimal representationof a plan state while generating a plan to complete a task in acomputing environment, where the optimal representation of the planstate improves efficiency of the computing environment through improvedutilization of memory and reduction of overhead from data retrieval. Thesystem comprises a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. Theprocessor is capable of executing programmed instructions stored in thememory. The programmed instructions are executed for representing a planstate including one or more tasks and including a first dataset and asecond dataset, where the second dataset is received from one or moreheterogeneous data sources. The first dataset includes logical atomsrepresented in a predicate-based schema, and the second dataset includesdatabase atoms represented in a non-predicate-based schema. The logicalatoms indicate dynamically-varying data to be accessed frequently, andthe database atoms indicate static data. A database atom of the seconddataset is represented with a path that facilitates selective access ofthe database atoms from the one or more heterogeneous data sources. Theprogrammed instructions are further executed to iteratively select oneor more task methods from a set of predefined task methods and one ormore task operators from a set of predefined task operators, based onthe one or more tasks to be completed, to define one or more selectedtask methods and one or more selected task operators. The programmedinstructions are executed to successively execute the selected taskmethods and the selected task operators in order to complete the task.The execution of each of the selected task methods and each of theselected task operators includes validating a first preconditionassociated with the selected task method and a second preconditionassociated with the selected task operator, by matching a first set ofvariables associated with the selected task method and a second set ofvariables associated with the selected task operator, with at least oneof the logical atoms and the database atoms, and wherein matching of thedatabase atoms is facilitated using the path. The execution furtherincludes assigning, if the first precondition is valid, the first set ofvariables with a first set of values, and assigning, if the secondprecondition is valid, the second set of variables with a second set ofvalues, where the first set of values and the second set of values areobtained from one or more logical atoms of the first dataset and one ormore database atoms of the second dataset, so matched with the first setof variables and the second set of variables, respectively. The systemfurther includes programmed instructions for executing the selected taskmethod using the first set of values and the selected task operatorusing the second set of values, and generating a plan based upon theexecution of the selected task methods and the selected task operators.

In one implementation, a non-transitory computer readable mediumembodying a program executable in a computing device for optimalrepresentation of a plan state while generating a plan to complete atask in a computing environment, wherein the optimal representation ofthe plan state improves efficiency of the computing environment throughimproved utilization of memory and reduction of overhead from dataretrieval is described. The program comprises a program code forrepresenting a plan state including one or more tasks and including afirst dataset and a second dataset, where the second dataset is receivedfrom one or more heterogeneous data sources. The first dataset includeslogical atoms represented in a predicate-based schema, and the seconddataset includes database atoms represented in a non-predicate-basedschema. The logical atoms indicate dynamically-varying data to beaccessed frequently, and the database atoms indicate static data. Adatabase atom of the second dataset is represented with a path thatfacilitates selective access of the database atoms from the one or moreheterogeneous data sources. The program further comprises a program codefor iteratively selecting one or more task methods from a set ofpredefined task methods and one or more task operators from a set ofpredefined task operators, based on the one or more tasks to becompleted, to define one or more selected task methods and one or moreselected task operators. The program further comprises a program codefor successively executing the selected task methods and the selectedtask operators in order to complete the task. The execution of each ofthe selected task methods and each of the selected task operatorsincludes validating a first precondition associated with the selectedtask method and a second precondition associated with the selected taskoperator, by matching a first set of variables associated with theselected task method and a second set of variables associated with theselected task operator, with at least one of the logical atoms and thedatabase atoms, and wherein matching of the database atoms isfacilitated using the path. The execution further includes assigning, ifthe first precondition is valid, the first set of variables with a firstset of values, and assigning, if the second precondition is valid, thesecond set of variables with a second set of values, where the first setof values and the second set of values are obtained from one or morelogical atoms of the first dataset and one or more database atoms of thesecond dataset, so matched with the first set of variables and thesecond set of variables, respectively. The program further comprises aprogram code for executing the selected task method using the first setof values and the selected task operator using the second set of values,and generating a plan based upon the execution of the selected taskmethods and the selected task operators.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanyingfigures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference numberidentifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. Thesame numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer like features andcomponents.

FIG. 1 illustrates a network implementation of a system for generating aplan to complete a task in a computing environment, in accordance withan embodiment of the present subject matter.

FIG. 2 illustrates the system for generating the plan to complete thetask in the computing environment, in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present subject matter.

FIG. 3 illustrates a framework of the system for generating the plan tocomplete the task in the computing environment, in accordance with anembodiment of the present subject matter.

FIG. 4 illustrates a process flow chart for generating the plan tocomplete the task in the computing environment, in accordance with anembodiment of the present subject matter.

FIG. 5 illustrates a method for generating a plan to complete a task ina computing environment, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentsubject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

System(s) and method(s) for generating a plan to complete a task in acomputing environment are described. The system provides a frameworkthat facilitates use of heterogeneous data sources to represent a planstate in order to generate the plan. The system and method facilitatesrepresentation of the plan state. The plan state representationcomprises a combination of information in predicate form as well asreferences to information in non-predicate form stored in a variety ofdata sources like databases, ontologies, etc. The plan staterepresentation using information from distributed heterogeneous datasources, without altering planning algorithm in concern is disclosed.Hence, according to the present disclosure, the system provides aframework capable of handling the non-predicate-based data along withthe predicate-based data, and a provision to access thenon-predicate-based data from the plan state on a demand basis. A keyaspect of the present disclosure is to handle overheads caused by thenon-predicate-based data without changing the main planning process.

The system and method for generating the plan may comprise receiving oneor more logical atoms, and one or more database atoms. The one or morelogical atoms may be represented in a first schema, and the one or moredatabase atoms may be represented in a second schema. The first schemamay be a predicate-based schema. The logical atoms may be representedusing predicate logic. The second schema may be a non-predicate-basedschema, and representation of the database atom comprises a path toselectively access the database atom stored in one or more data sources.The system and method may further receive a task list in the form of atask network, a set of task methods, and a set of task operatorsrequired to complete the task. The task list defines a task.

Further, the system and method select and execute a task method and/or atask operator iteratively from the set of task methods and the set oftask operators to complete the task. The execution of the task methodand the task operator may comprise iteratively verifying a preconditionassociated with the task method and the task operator for validity. Theprecondition may be a logical expression of variables mentioned in atask method representation and a task operator representation. Theprecondition may be verified by comparing variables of the task methodor the task operator with the logical atoms or the database atoms inorder to match the variables with the logical atoms or the databaseatoms.

When the precondition is valid, the variables are assigned with thevalues obtained from the logical atoms and/or the database atoms somatched with the variables. When the task method is selected, the taskmethod is decomposed into sub-tasks, and the values of thearguments/variables of the task method are assigned to the arguments ofthe sub-tasks, and the sub-tasks are added to the task list in order toexecute the sub-tasks. The sub-tasks may be executed by iterativelyperforming the selection and the execution of each sub-task. Further,the system may generate the plan based upon the execution of all thetasks and sub-tasks form the task list.

While aspects of described system and method for generating a plan tocomplete a task in a computing environment may be implemented in any ofa number of different computing systems, environments, and/orconfigurations, the embodiments are described in the context of thefollowing exemplary system.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a network implementation 100 of a system 102for generating a plan to complete a task in a computing environment isillustrated, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subjectmatter. In one embodiment, the system 102 may select a task method fromthe set of task methods and/or a task operator from the set of taskoperators and may execute the task method and/or the task operator. Inone embodiment, the system 102 may verify whether a preconditionassociated with the task method and/or the task operator is valid. Afterverifying the precondition, one or more variables of the preconditionmay be assigned with one or more values when the precondition is valid.In another embodiment, when the task method is selected, the system maydecompose the task method into one or more sub-tasks and may iterativelyexecute the one or more sub-tasks in order to complete the task. Inanother embodiment, the system may generate the plan based on theexecution of the task and each of the sub-tasks from the task list.

Although the present subject matter is explained considering that thesystem 102 is implemented on a server, it may be understood that thesystem 102 may also be implemented in any of a variety of computingsystems, such as a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a notebook, aworkstation, a mainframe computer, a server, a network server, and thelike. In one implementation, the system 102 may be implemented in acloud-based environment. It will be understood that the system 102 maybe accessed by multiple users through one or more user devices 104-1,104-2, 104-3 . . . 104-N, collectively referred to as user devices 104hereinafter, or by applications residing on the user devices 104.Examples of the user devices 104 may include, but are not limited to, aportable computer, a personal digital assistant, a handheld device, anda workstation. The user devices 104 are communicatively coupled to thesystem 102 through a network 106.

In one implementation, the network 106 may be a wireless network, awired network or a combination thereof. The network 106 can beimplemented as one of the different types of networks, such as intranet,local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), the internet, and thelike. The network 106 may either be a dedicated network or a sharednetwork. The shared network represents an association of the differenttypes of networks that use a variety of protocols, for example,Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), Transmission ControlProtocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), Wireless Application Protocol(WAP), and the like, to communicate with one another. Further, thenetwork 106 may include a variety of network devices, including routers,bridges, servers, computing devices, storage devices, and the like.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the system 102 is illustrated in accordancewith an embodiment of the present subject matter. In one embodiment, thesystem 102 may include at least one processor 202, an input/output (I/O)interface 204, and a memory 206. The at least one processor 202 may beimplemented as one or more microprocessors, microcomputers,microcontrollers, digital signal processors, central processing units,state machines, logic circuitries, and/or any devices that manipulatesignals based on operational instructions. Among other capabilities, theat least one processor 202 is configured to fetch and executecomputer-readable instructions stored in the memory 206.

The I/O interface 204 may include a variety of software and hardwareinterfaces, for example, a web interface, a graphical user interface,and the like. The I/O interface 204 may allow the system 102 to interactwith a user directly or through the user devices 104. Further, the I/Ointerface 204 may enable the system 102 to communicate with othercomputing devices, such as web servers and external data servers (notshown). The I/O interface 204 can facilitate multiple communicationswithin a wide variety of networks and protocol types, including wirednetworks, for example, LAN, cable, etc., and wireless networks, such asWLAN, cellular, or satellite. The I/O interface 204 may include one ormore ports for connecting a number of devices to one another or toanother server.

The memory 206 may include any computer-readable medium known in the artincluding, for example, volatile memory, such as static random accessmemory (SRAM) and dynamic random access memory (DRAM), and/ornon-volatile memory, such as read only memory (ROM), erasableprogrammable ROM, flash memories, hard disks, optical disks, andmagnetic tapes. The memory 206 may include modules 208 and data 210.

The modules 208 include routines, programs, objects, components, datastructures, etc., which perform particular tasks, functions or implementparticular abstract data types. In one implementation, the modules 208may include a receiving module 212, a planning module 214, an adaptationmodule 216, and other modules 218. The other modules 218 may includeprograms or coded instructions that supplement applications andfunctions of the system 102. The programs include programmedinstructions.

The data 210, amongst other things, serves as a repository for storingdata processed, received, and generated by one or more of the modules208. The data 210 may also include a system database 222, and other data224. The other data 224 may include data generated as a result of theexecution of one or more modules in the other module 218.

In one implementation, at first, a user may use the user device 104 toaccess the system 102 via the I/O interface 204. The user may registerusing the I/O interface 204 in order to access the system 102. Theworking of the system 102 may be explained in detail by referring todetails of FIGS. 2 and 3. The system 102 may be used to generate a plan.The system 102 may be used to generate the plan to complete a task in acomputing environment. In order to complete the task, the system 102, atfirst, receives data. Specifically, in the present implementation, thesystem receives data through the receiving module 212.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, detailed working of the system 102 isillustrated, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subjectmatter. Referring to FIG. 3, the detailed working of the receivingmodule 212 along with working of other components of the system 102 areillustrated, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subjectmatter. The receiving module 212 may receive a problem definition. Theproblem definition may comprise a first dataset and a second dataset.The first dataset and the second dataset may be associated with a task.By way of an example the task may be booking a ticket, moving packagesbetween locations by trucks under certain spatial constraints anddelivering deadlines, finding a sequence of biochemical (pathways)reactions in an organism producing certain substances, traveling andbuying goods at selected markets minimizing costs, and the like. Thefirst dataset may be generated and the second dataset may be receivedfrom one or more data sources. The first dataset may comprise one ormore logical atoms. The second dataset may comprise one or more databaseatoms. The one or more logical atoms may be represented in a firstschema. The one or more database atoms may be represented in a secondschema. The first schema may be a predicate-based schema. The one ormore logical atoms may be represented using predicate representation.The second schema may be a non-predicate-based schema. The one or moredatabase atoms may represent the path to selectively access the one ormore data sources. The one or more data sources may comprise databases,ontologies, application program interface calls, web services, or acombination thereof.

The one or more data sources may be heterogeneous data sources. The oneor more heterogeneous data sources may comprise databases, ontologies,application program interface calls, and web services.

In the field of artificial intelligence, planning is a process ofselecting and organizing actions by considering expected outcomes orgoals. In a planning process, a plan state denotes a state of a world.The plan state is represented as a combination of a set of logical atomsand a set of database atoms that may change during the planning process.During the planning process, the state of the plan system, i.e., theplan state, may undergo change as determined by post conditions of theactions included in the plan. The plan state S may be represented byEquation (1)S->(la)′  Equation (1)

In Equation (1), ‘la’ represents a logical atom. The logical atom may berepresented in predicate form. The logical atom comprises a logical atomhead and a set of logical atom arguments. For example, a fact—“amount ofavailable cash is 10,000”—may be represented in the plan state as thelogical atom ‘available cash’ represented as (avail-cash 10000). Here,avail-cash is the logical atom head and 10000 is an argument of thelogical atom. The prior art plan state representation suffers fromshortcomings such as practicability, scalability, and modularity. Hence,the plan state representation has become a requirement towardsimprovement.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a modification ina plan state is disclosed. The system comprises a framework to providethe plan state representation in a modified form. The modification inthe plan state may comprise a representation of the plan state using acombination of the one or more logical atoms and the one or moredatabase atoms. The plan state representation using a combination of theone or more logical atoms and the one or more database atoms provides asupport for the use of heterogeneous data sources (for example, forbooking a flight ticket, various data sources of agents, flights, andweather can be used).

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the plan state maycomprise the first dataset and the second dataset. The first dataset maycomprise the one or more logical atoms. The one or more logical atomsmay be represented in predicate form. The one or more logical atoms mayrepresent frequently-changeable data (dynamic data) usingpredicate-based schema. The predicate-based schema may indicaterepresentation of the one or more logical atoms in predicate form. Thepredicate form is a symbolic formal system used to represent facts orinformation that is true. By way of the above explained example, a factor information is “amount of available cash is 10,000.” The predicaterepresentation of the fact is (avail-cash 10000). By way of an example,the available cash of a person is represented using a logical atom inpredicate form, as an application of different operators on the logicalatom may frequently change the value of the logical atom. The logicalatoms related to available cash, agent, flight, and hotel may berepresented in the predicate form as shown below:

-   (avail-cash 10000)-   (agent thomascook 500)-   (agent reachfar 600)-   (flight-info flight IC814 kolkata london 40000 9 22 13 1)-   (flight-info flight KF334 kolkata london 30000 11 23 12 0)-   (hotel-info princess-hotel london 4 3500)-   (hotel-info travelodge london 3 3600)

The second dataset may comprise the one or more database atoms. The oneor more database atoms may be represented in a non-predicate schema. Thenon-predicate schema may indicate representation of the one or moredatabase atoms in non-predicate form. In one embodiment, non-predicaterepresentation may be a representation other than predicaterepresentation. An example of the non-predicate form of representationis natural language. By way of a non-limiting example, state facts maybe represented as ‘amount of available cash is 10,000, 6 is evennumber.’ In one embodiment, less-frequently changing data ornon-changing data (static data) may be stored in one or more databaseatoms in the non-predicate form. Thus, by way of storing the lessfrequently changing data or non-changing data (static data) in a secondschema, i.e., non-predicate schema, the frequent access of the data andfrequent modification can be avoided. By way of an example, an agent'sinformation (travel agent name, address, contact number, charge, etc.),or flight information (flight name, flight number, source, destination,cost, number of hops, departure, arrival, duration, etc.), or the hotelinformation (hotel name, location, class, type, price, etc.) of a cityis represented using a non-predicate data source such as database atomsas shown below.

(:import-db mysql agentDB jdbc:mysql://localhost:3306 user user123agent) (:import-db mysql flightDB jdbc:mysql://localhost:3306 useruser123 flight) (:import-db mysql hotelDB jdbc:mysql://localhost:3306user user123 hotel)

The representation of the database atoms in the non-predicate-basedschema and the selective access of the database atoms from the one ormore heterogeneous data sources using the path makes the plan statescalable, practical, and modular, and wherein cache memory is used tostore the database atoms so fetched.

The logical atoms indicating dynamically varying data continuallyresides in the memory during the generation of the plan, whereas thedatabase atoms indicating the static data is selectively loaded in thememory only when required during the generation of the plan, therebyfacilitating optimal utilization of the memory and reducing dataretrieval overhead during the generation of the plan. A connection maybe added to the second dataset to access optimal data associated withthe database atoms selectively. The optimal data associated with thedatabase atoms may be required during planning. The optimal dataassociated with the database atoms may be accessed by using the path asrepresented in the database atoms.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the receiving module 212 may receive a tasklist in the problem definition. The task list may define tasks. Thereceiving module 212 may receive a domain definition. The domaindefinition may comprise a set of task methods and a set of taskoperators. The set of task methods may be of non-primitive type and theset of task operators may be of primitive type. The primitive type oftask operator may indicate atomic work which can be directlyaccomplished by operator. E.g. “!set-agent” denotes a task operator ofprimitive type. The non-primitive type of task method may indicate awork or an action that may not be accomplished directly and may need tobe decomposed into sub-tasks. E.g. “BookTicket” denotes task method ofthe non-primitive type.

Logical representation of the task method may comprise the task methodprecondition and the one or more sub-tasks. The task method preconditionmay comprise a logical precondition and/or a database precondition. Thelogical representation of the task operator may comprise the taskoperator precondition and an effect list. The task operator preconditionmay comprise the logical precondition and/or the database precondition.The effect list may comprise instructions for deletion or addition ofthe one or more logical atoms or deletion or addition of the one or moredatabase atoms. The task method may be decomposed into sub-tasks if thepre-condition mentioned in the task method is satisfied by the planstate, that is, the first dataset and/or the second dataset.

The task method may comprise a first precondition and one or moresub-tasks. The first precondition may be at least one of a logicalprecondition and a database precondition. The task operator may comprisea second precondition and an action list. The second precondition may beat least one of the logical precondition and the database precondition.The action list may comprise instructions for deletion or addition ofone or more logical atoms or deletion or addition of one or moredatabase atoms.

The task method may be decomposed into the one or more sub-tasks. Thetask method may indicate an action to be accomplished by executing theone or more sub-tasks. The sub-task may be a task method or a taskoperator. The task operator may indicate an atomic action to beaccomplished directly without any further decomposition.

The task method may be executed by decomposing the task method into theone or more sub-tasks. One or more variables of the first set ofvariables of the task method may be assigned to one or more sub-taskarguments associated with the one or more sub-tasks. The one or moresub-tasks may be added to the task in order to iteratively execute theone or more sub-tasks. The task operator may be executed by selectingand modifying at least one of the one or more logical atoms and the oneor more database atoms. At least one of a logical atom and a databaseatom may be added to the logical atoms and the database atomsrespectively, based on the execution of the task operator. The executionof the sub-task may comprise validating at least one of the firstprecondition and the second precondition, assigning at least one of thefirst set of variables and the second set of variables, and eitherdecomposing the task method, assigning at least one of the first set ofvariables and the second set of variables, and adding one or moresub-tasks to the task, or modifying one or more logical atoms, or one ormore database atoms.

In the following example of a task method, the task “BookTicket” isfirst unified with a task method head. The task is decomposed into asub-task “agent” if the precondition “(choose ?p)” is satisfied by planstate.

(:method(BookTicket ?x ?y ?z ?m ?p) //task method head and arguments((choose ?p)) //task method precondition ((agent ?x ?y ?z ?m)))//decomposed task

The task operator may complete the work/action/task if the pre-conditionmentioned in the operator is satisfied by the plan state. As an effectof applying the task operator, some of the logical atoms may be deletedfrom the first dataset or the second dataset (if permitted), and some ofthe logical atoms may be added into the first dataset or the seconddataset (if permitted). For example, the task operator may complete anaction/primitive task “set-agent” if the precondition “(avail-cash ?x)”is satisfied by the current plan state, i.e. the first dataset andsecond dataset. As an effect, the logical atom “(avail-cash ?x)” isdeleted and two logical atoms such as booking details,i.e.“(booked-through ?a)” and updated available cash after booking, i.e.“(avail-cash (call-?x ?b))” are added to the first dataset. Followingare the examples of representation and working of the task operator.

(operator (!set-agent ?a ?b) //task operator head and argument((avail-cash ?x)) //task operator precondition ((avail-cash ?x)) //taskoperator delete list ((booked-through ?a)(avail-cash (call - ?x ?b))))//task operator add list

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the receiving module 212 may receive aproblem definition. The problem definition may comprise one or morelogical atoms, one or more database atoms, and the task list. The one ormore database atoms may be represented with a path to selectively accessthe one or more database atoms from the one or more data sources. Theone or more logical atoms and the one or more database atoms may berequired to complete the task.

The problem definition may be a file containing description of theinformation to be used to complete the task. The information required tocomplete the task may comprise one or more logical atoms, one or moredatabase atoms and the task list. In other words, the problem definitionmay be the plan state in which the task may be completed. By way of anexample, the task is to book a ticket and the primary information/datarequired to complete the task of booking the ticket. The primaryinformation comprises three logical atoms such as available cashinformation and information about two agents. The task is to book aticket from Kolkata to London and using cash up to 30000, using a flightvia an agent. By way of an example, the problem definition for the taskto book a ticket is represented as follows.

(defproblem problem CITY ----------------------Initial planstate-----------------------  (   (avail-cash 100000)    (agentthomascook 500)   (agent reachfar 600)  ) --------------Task list for atask of ‘Bookticket’--------------------  ((BookTicket kolkata london30000 flight agent)))

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the receiving module 212 may receive adomain definition. The domain definition may comprise a representationof the set of task methods, a representation of the set of taskoperators. The set of task methods and the set of task operators may beprovided in the domain definition and may be required to complete thetask. The domain definition may comprise actions, namely, the set oftask methods, and the set of task operators used to complete the taskmentioned in the task list. The domain definition may be provided by adomain descriptor, and the problem definition may be provided by theuser.

Still referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the planning module 214 may select atask method from the set of task methods or a task operator from the setof task operators. According to an embodiment of the present invention,the task method or the task operator may be selected by using theproblem definition and the domain definition and by matching the taskwith the set of task methods and the set of task operators. The matchingof the task with the set of task methods and the set of task operatorsmay comprise the matching of a task head with the task method head ormatching of the task head with the task operator head. The task methodhead may be mentioned in the representation of the task method, and thetask operator head is mentioned in the representation of the taskoperator. The task head may be compared with the task method head ofeach task method from the set of task methods. The task head may becompared with the task operator head of each task operator from the setof task operators. The matching of the task with the set of task methodsand the set of task operators is called a unification of the task methodor the task operator. The unification of the task method or theunification of the task operator may be done by matching the task name(known as task-head) with the task method name (known as method-head) orthe task operator name (known as operator-head). The task can be unifiedwith more than one task method or more than one task operator at a time.But, only one task method or one task operator is selected by theplanning module to complete the task.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5, the adaptation module 216 and planningmodule 214 may be configured to execute at least one of the task methodand the task operator in order to complete the task. The execution ofthe task method or the execution of the task operator may compriseverifying whether a precondition associated with one of the task methodand the task operator is valid. The precondition may be a logicalexpression of one or more variables. The precondition may be verified bycomparing the one or more variables with the one or more logical atomsor the one or more database atoms in order to match the one or morevariables with the one or more logical atoms or the one or more databaseatoms. The comparing or matching of the one or more database atoms maybe facilitated using the path mentioned in representation of the one ormore database atoms. The precondition associated with the task methodmay be a method precondition defined in the task method and theprecondition associated with the task operator may be an operatorprecondition defined in the task operator. In the following example, aprecondition (method precondition) of the task method “BookTicket” is(choose ?p). The task “BookTicket” may be decomposed into a sub-task“agent” if the precondition “(choose ?p)” is satisfied by the planstate.

(:method(BookTicket ?x ?y ?z ?m ?p) //task method head and arguments((choose ?p)) //precondition ((agent ?x ?y ?z ?m))) //decomposed task

In the following example, a task operator “set-agent” can be applied tocomplete a task “set-agent” if the precondition “(avail-cash ?x)” issatisfied by the current plan state, i.e., the first dataset and thesecond dataset. As an effect, the logical atom “(avail-cash ?x)” isdeleted and two logical atoms, such as booking details, i.e.,“(booked-through ?a),” and updated available cash after booking, i.e.,“(avail-cash (call-?x ?b)),” are added to the first dataset. Followingare the examples of representation and working of the task operator.

(:operator (!set-agent ?a ?b) ((avail-cash ?x)) ((avail-cash ?x))  ((booked-through ?a)(avail-cash (call - ?x ?b))))

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a preconditionassociated with the task method and/or a precondition associated withthe task operator may be NULL. NULL implies no precondition. In oneembodiment, the ‘addlist’, the ‘deletelist’ part of the task operatormay also be NULL.

According to an embodiment of the present subject matter, modificationin the precondition is provided. The precondition may be represented asa logical expression of predicate-based logical atoms as well asnon-predicate-based database atoms. Modification in the task operator'seffect may be obtained which refer to the modifications in thepredicate-based logical atoms as well as modifications in thenon-predicate-based database atoms based on the requirement. Thedatabase atoms may be stored in the one or more data sources. Further,the system and method of the present disclosure handles overhead causedby the database atoms by use of the adaptation module 216, withoutmodifying the planning process. The overhead caused by thenon-predicate-based database atoms may be the establishment of aconnection to the one or more data sources to access the database atoms,to fetch the database atoms, to verify the precondition associated withthe database atoms, and the like.

The adaptation module 216 may add a connection to the second dataset toaccess a database atom and fetch the database atom by using the path asrepresented in the database atom. The one or more logical atoms and theone or more database atoms may be supplied to the adaptation module 216.In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the adaptation module 216may be plugged in with other planners, like a classical planner, toavail the advantages mentioned in the present disclosure. The adaptationmodule 216 can also be reused for data gathering purposes. In theproposed framework, the problem definition and the domain definition maybe two inputs to the adaptation module 216.

The adaptation module 216 may assign the one or more variables with oneor more values when the precondition is valid. The one or more valuesmay be obtained from the at least one logical atom and/or the at leastone database atom so matched with the one or more variables.

The adaptation module 216 may execute the task operator. The executionof the task operator may comprise verifying the precondition associatedwith the task operator, and if the precondition is satisfied, mayfurther comprise modifying the one or more logical atoms from the firstdataset and/or modifying the one or more database atoms from the seconddataset.

According to an embodiment of the present subject matter, when the taskoperator is selected and the precondition associated with the taskoperator is valid, the adaptation module 216 may modify the logicalatom, and/or the database atom, as mentioned, into the task operators'effect part. The modification of the at least one logical atom and theat least one database atom may be based on the execution of the taskoperator.

The adaptation module 216 may add new one or more logical atoms to thefirst dataset and may add new one or more database atoms to the seconddataset based on the execution of the task operator. The new one or morelogical atoms are not present in the first dataset initially, and thenew one or more database atoms are not present in the second datasetinitially. According to an embodiment of the present subject matter,cache memory may be used to store the one or more database atomsfetched. The adaptation module 216 may fetch the one or more databaseatoms from the data sources to verify the precondition associated withthe one or more database atoms. The one or more database atoms sofetched may be needed in the near future to verify another precondition.To reduce overhead from the need to fetch the same one or more databaseatoms again, the so fetched one or more database atoms are kept into thecache memory. Therefore, while verifying another precondition, if theadaptation layer gets a non-predicate precondition, the adaptationmodule first checks the one or more database atoms in the cache memory.Further, if the one or more database atoms are not matched with adatabase atom mentioned in the precondition, then the adaptation module216 may check the data source using the path mentioned in the databaseatom.

When the task method is selected, the planning module may decompose thetask method into one or more sub-tasks. The planning module may assignone or more values of arguments/variables of the task method to one ormore sub-tasks' arguments. The planning module may add the one or moresub-tasks to the task list in order to execute the one or moresub-tasks. The adaptation module and planning module may execute the oneor more sub-tasks. The one or more sub-tasks may be executed byiteratively selecting the sub-task from the task list.

The tasks and the sub-tasks may be selected based on priority, asmentioned in the task list. Further, the execution of sub-task maycomprise selection of a task method from the set of task methods or atask operator from the set of task operators by using the problemdefinition and the domain definition, and by matching the sub-task headwith each task method's head from the set of task methods, and bymatching the sub-task head with each task operator's head from the setof task operators. The execution of the sub-task may further compriseexecuting at least one of the task method and/or the task operator soselected in order to complete the sub-task. The sub-task may be executedusing similar steps as mentioned in the execution of the task.

The execution of the at least one of the task method and the taskoperator comprises verifying whether a precondition associated with oneof the task method and the task operator is valid. The precondition is alogical expression of one or more variables. The precondition isverified by comparing the one or more variables with the one or morelogical atoms or the one or more database atoms in order to match theone or more variables with at least one logical atom or at least onedatabase atom. The comparing of the one or more database atoms isfacilitated using the path provided in the database atom representation.

According to an embodiment of the present subject matter, the adaptationmodule 216 may facilitate the optimized use of the data and theoptimized use of the memory in the planning process. In the presentdisclosure, the adaptation module 216 may verify the precondition withthe first dataset and the second dataset. The precondition may beassociated with the task method or the task operator. The preconditionmay comprise logical atoms and/or database atoms. By way of an example,if the precondition associated with the task method is “(:sort-by?q<(mysq1 agentDB jdbc:mysq1://localhost:3306 agent ?p/aname?q/charge))”, then the adaptation module 216 may connect to the database“agent,” sort the entries from the database agent based on “charge,” andreturn a tuple with the least value of charge associated with the agent.In the prior art techniques, the agent information represented as (agentthomascook 500) and (agent reachfar 600) would need to be loaded intothe main memory of the planning system, since agent thomascook and agentreachfar are declared using a predicate-based schema.

The execution of the at least one of the task method and the taskoperator may comprise assigning the one or more variables with one ormore values when the precondition is valid. The one or more values maybe obtained from the one or more logical atoms or the one or moredatabase atoms so matched with the one or more variables. Hence,execution of the one or more sub-tasks comprises iteratively performingthe selecting of the task method and/or the task operator, and theexecuting of the task method and/or the task operator for each sub-taskfrom the task list. The above-said steps are performed iteratively foreach sub-task from the task list by selecting and executing eachsub-task from the task list until there is no sub-task remaining in thetask list. The execution of the sub-task comprises the verifying theprecondition, the assigning of the one or more variables, thedecomposing of the task method, the assigning of one or morearguments/variables, and the adding of the one or more sub-tasks to thetask list. The sub-task is executed as an execution of the task.

Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the planning module 214 may generate theplan based upon the execution of at least one of the tasks and the oneor more sub-tasks. The plan may be generated by using the problemdefinition 302 and the domain definition 304. In the given example,completing the task “Bookticket” is to execute “agent,” “set-agent,”“book-via-agent,” “book-transport-flight, the “book-ticket” methods andoperators.

Referring to FIG. 4, the workings of the system 102, in accordance withan embodiment of the present disclosure, is explained. In step 401, atask list is received by the receiving module 212. Further, in order toaccomplish the task from the task list, in step 402, the planning module214 unifies the chosen task with a task method or a task operator,matching a task head with the task methods' head (for a non-primitivetask), or matching a task head with the task operators'head (for aprimitive task), based on the source of the task methods and taskoperators stored in the system database. The planning module selects theunified task method(s) or unified task operator(s) and may pass theunified task method(s) or unified task operator(s) to the adaptationmodule 216. In step 403, the adaptation module 216 then verifies theprecondition of the task method(s) and task operator(s), with respect tothe current plan state. The plan state comprises a first datasetcomprising a plurality of logical atoms and a second dataset comprisingplurality of database atoms. The pluralities of logical atoms arerepresented in a predicate-based schema, and the plurality of databaseatoms are represented in a non-predicate-based schema. A precondition isa logical expression of variables indicative of logical atoms anddatabase atoms. In step 404, the variables (constituents) of theprecondition (logical expression) are verified as to whether thevariables (constituents) are logical atoms (predicates) or databaseatoms (non-predicates). So, satisfaction of the precondition depends onthe matching of the logical atoms and database atoms from the plan statewith the variables (constituents) of the logical expression. Thematching of the logical atoms and database atoms from the plan statewith the variables of the precondition (logical expression) is carriedout in steps 405 and 406 respectively. If there are no such logicalatoms or database atoms present in the plan state, the truth value ofthe precondition becomes false, not true. When the truth value of theprecondition becomes false, the system 102 exits and stops.

Further, in step 405, the adaptation module verifies the availabilityfor the set of logical atoms in the plan state. In step 406, forverifying the database atoms, adaptation module fetches the specifieddata and checks whether the data present in the data source can satisfythe precondition or not. The satisfaction of the verification associatedwith the logical atoms indicates presence of the logical atoms in thefirst dataset. Satisfaction of the verification associated with thedatabase atoms indicates the presence of the database atoms in thesecond dataset. For a successful verification, the adaptation module 216substitutes variables mentioned in the precondition with the groundedvalue. The grounded values are the values obtained from the one or morelogical atoms or the one or more database atoms that satisfies theprecondition.

The adaptation module 216 further assigns the grounded value to theuninstantiated argument list of the task method or the task operator. Byway of an example, in precondition (choose ?p), ‘p’ is an‘uninstantiated’ variable which is instantiated by value ‘agent.’ Next,in the case of the task method, in step 408, the planning module selectsan applicable task method or task operator, and in step 409, theplanning module decomposes the task methods into sub-tasks and theplanning module adds the decomposed task of the task method to the tasklist. For the task operator in step 408, the adaptation module executesthe task operator's effect part. The task operator's effect partcontains “deletelist” and “addlist.” If the “deletelist”/“addlist”refers to a modification in the one or more predicates (logical atoms),then, in step 410, the adaptation module 216, modifies the predicate(s)accordingly. Otherwise, in step 411, the adaptation module 216 checksfor the permission of modification for non-predicate data from the datasources (in the case of dynamic data maintained in non-predicate-baseddata sources). If the modification of the non-predicate data ispermitted and required, then in step 412, the adaptation module connectsto the data sources and modifies (that is, adds or deletes or updates)the non-predicate data accordingly.

The method steps as described above are repeated until all the sub-tasksof the task list are completed. The process also exits if no step asabove mentioned can accomplish any of the sub-tasks. FIG. 4 representsthe process flowchart. Whenever the control passes from the planningmodule to the adaptation module or vice versa, the passing of control ismentioned within the bracket in the process flowchart.

According to an embodiment of the present subject matter, animplementation of the system 102 for generating the plan to complete thetask in the computing environment is provided. Incorporation of the useof heterogeneous data sources in the planning system requiressignificant modifications in the grammar rule, as well as in the domaindefinition and the problem definition. The modifications in the grammarrule, the domain definition, and the problem definition are provided, byway of an example, considering that the database as the non-predicateinformation source is provided.

The modification in the grammar rule is explained. The keywords (e.g.,and, call, imply, etc.) and the grammar terminals (e.g., :method,:sort-by, :first, etc.) used by the problem definition and the domaindefinition is mentioned in JSHOP2 grammar. A new grammar terminal,:import-db to differentiate database information from informationrepresented by predicate-based schema in the plan state, is disclosed.Any logical expression that starts with:import-db refers to a database.

The modification in the problem definition is explained. The problemdefinition requires the following modifications. The modification in theplan state is explained in equation (2).S->(la|dba)^(s)  Equation (2)

In equation (2), ‘la’ represents the logical atom and ‘dba’ representsthe database atom. Each database belongs to a server. So, a server name,a database name, and a table name needs to be mentioned in the databaseatom. In order to establish a connection with database driver settings,a user name and password is also required. Hence, the driver settings,the user name, and the password are also mentioned in the database atom.Syntactically, the database atom is represented as shown below.

(:importdb servername dbname driversettings username password)

“Server name” implies the name of server, “db name” implies databasename, and “driver settings,” “user name,” and “password” denote driversetting, username, and password, respectively. When the adaptationmodule gets a logical atom (predicate) while reading the problemdefinition, the adaptation module checks whether the logical atom isused (mentioned in) by the domain definition or not. If the logical atomis used (mentioned) in the domain definition, then the logical atom(predicate) is loaded in memory. If not, the logical atom is discarded.If the adaptation module finds a database atom having a reference to thedatabase that is a path mentioned in the database atom to access thedatabase, the adaptation module establishes a connection with thecorresponding database with the help of the path provided in thedatabase atom. The adaptation module adds the connection to the seconddataset of the plan state. The connection is used in a later stage ofthe planning process such as for precondition checking, datamodification, etc. The complete plan state comprising the first datasetand the second dataset is passed to the planning module at the initialstage of the planning process.

The modification in the domain definition is explained. The domaindefinition also requires some syntactic, operational modifications. Themodification in precondition as mentioned in the domain definition isexplained. The domain definition comprises the task methods and the taskoperators that may be used by the planning module and the adaptationmodule to complete the task. Both the task method and the task operatorhave a precondition part (P) represented as,P→lp=le|FIRST le|SORT VARID(fid)?le  Equation (3)le→(AND)?(le)′|OR(le)⁺|NOT le|IMPLYlele|la|FORALL(((VARID)*)|NIL)lele|EXISTS((((VARID)*)|NIL)lele|ASSIGNVARID term|CALL fid:term1|NIL  Equation (4)The precondition mentioned above is associated with both (task methodand task operator). Equation 3 and 4 represents the syntax of aprecondition.

As shown above in Equation (3), said precondition lp represents thelogical precondition which is actually a logical expression (le) or afirst satisfier precondition or a sorted precondition. Precondition(FIRST le) compels the planning module (along with the adaptationmodule) to consider only the first set of bindings with respect to aplan state that satisfies le. The planning module (along with theadaptation module) may not consider the next bindings, even if the firstbindings do not lead to a valid plan. SORT VARID (d)? le instructs theplanning module to consider bindings in decreasing or increasing orderusing fid depending on the values of variable VARID. The logicalexpression may be a logical atom or any complex expression ofconjunctions, disjunctions, negations, implications, universalquantifications, assignments, or call expressions. The modified logicalexpression of the precondition is provided as in Equation 5 below.le(AND)?(le)*|OR(le)⁺|NOT le|IMPLYlele|la|da|FORALL(VARID)*)lele|EXISTS((VARID)*)NIL)lele|ASSIGN VARIDterm|CALL fid term1|NIL  Equation (5)

Here as provided in Equation (5), a database atom consists of a da headand an argument list. The database atom head contains the server name,database name, driver setting, and the table name. The argument list ofthe database atom refers to the uninstantiated variables. Theuninstantiated argument list is instantiated with the values obtainedfrom database tables. The uninstantiated variables mentioned in theprecondition are instantiated by the values fetched from the database.If a data associated with the database atom needs to be fetched from thedatabase table with a restriction (some specific value for a particularcolumn), the column name needs to be mentioned within the third bracketof the database atom representation. Otherwise, if datum needs to befetched without restriction, the column names of the table may or maynot be mentioned. In this case, declaration of the column names isoptional. The variables of database atom (da) are substituted afterprecondition checking Syntactically, the basic database precondition isrepresented as,

(servername_dbname_driversettings_tablename arg1[/col1] argm[/colm]).

When the adaptation module reads the basic database precondition, theadaptation module uses the already established connections and obtainsdata from the databases by executing a sql query mentioned below, by wayof an example.

SELECT*FROM table name where colk=argk.

The plan state may contain more than one logical atom (predicate) thatsatisfies the precondition. The logical expression mentioned in theprecondition can filter the logical atoms (predicates) that satisfy theprecondition by applying restrictions such as call, sort-by, etc. Forexample, if the logical expression starts with sort-by, it sorts thelogical atoms (predicates) on some arguments mentioned in the argumentlist and passes the top-most predicate to the adaptation module. In thecase of a database precondition, the restrictions may be handled byformulating an equivalent sql query. An example of such a preconditionand equivalent sql query is provided below. Sort-by databaseprecondition:

-   (:sort-by ?col <(servername_dbname_driversettings_tablename    arg1[/col1] . . . argm[/colm)).-   Equivalent sql query:-   SELECT*FROM table name ORDER BY col ASC;

The modification in effect, other than the precondition part such assyntactic modification, is also required in the task operator's effectpart—that is, an addlist and deletelist—is explained. The addlist anddeletelist can change the database entry. The static data may be kept inthe database table, and therefore no modifications are required (insertand delete). The addlist can refer to an update and the addition of avalue to the database table, and the deletelist may refer to a deletionof data from the database table. Syntactically, the addlist anddeletelist may be represented as similar database preconditionexpressions.

(servername_dbname_driversettings_tablename arg1[/col1] . . .argm[/colm]).

Referring to the above said addlist and deletelist, the server name, thedatabase (db) name, the driver settings, and the table name may followsimilar notations as mentioned earlier. If the adaptation module 216encounters a logical atom (predicate) in the addlist and deletelist, theadaptation module may add or delete the corresponding logical atom(predicate) in the first dataset. If the addlist and deletelist refersto a database record, the adaptation module may first check the writepermission of the corresponding database. If permitted for the addlist,the adaption layer may execute a equivalent sql query, by way of anexample, shown below,

-   INSERT INTO table name VALUES (arg1, . . . , argm);-   And for the deletelist the following query is executed.-   DELETE FROM table name WHERE colk=argk;

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure,generation of the plan to complete the task in the computing environmentis explained. By way of an example, the task is to book a ticket byselecting an agent and a flight. The domain definition consists of fourtask methods and two task operators. The functionality of each taskmethod and each task operator is discussed below. The task methoddetails are provided as herein.

Task Method—BookTicket: checks the option for booking ticket and choosesa booking according to the option. Task Method—agent: finds agents andtheir charges, and selects an agent with the least charge. TaskOperator—set-agent: adds an agent name to the plan state, and modifiesavailable cash after selecting the agent. Task Method—book-via-agent:selects flight as the transport mode. Task Method—book-transport-flight:checks flight options and selects a flight for a given source anddestination whose fare is less than the available cash. TaskOperator—book-ticket: adds the flight number to the plan state andmodifies the cash available after booking the flight.

The domain definition is given below.

(defdomain CITY)  (    (:method(BookTicket ?x ?y ?z ?m ?p)  ((choose?p))  ((agent ?x ?y ?z ?m))) (:method (agent ?x ?y ?z ?m) (:sort-by ?q<(mysql_agentDB_jdbc:mysql://localhost:3306_agent ?p/ aname ?q/charge))((! set-agent ?p ?q)(book-via-agent ?x ?y ?z ?m)))  (operator (!set-agent ?a ?b)  ((avail-cash ?x)) ((avail-cash ?x)) ((booked-through?a)(avail-cash (call - ?x ?b))))  (:method(book-via-agent ?x ?y ?z ?m) ((transport-mode-mod ?m ?b ?c)) ((book-transport-flight ?x ?y ?z))) (:method (book-transport-flight ?x ?y ?z) ((mysql_flightDB_jdbc:mysql://localhost:3306_flight ?a/mode ?b/fno ?x/ source  ?y/destination ?e/fare ?f/start ?g/finish ?h/duration?i/hops)(call <?e ?z))   ((!book-ticket ?a ?b ?e)))  (:operator(!book-ticket ?m ?c ?d)  ((avail-cash ?x)) ((avail-cash ?x))  (( booked?m ?c )(avail-cash (call - ?x ?d))))  ) )

The problem definition comprises three predicates (logical atoms) andtwo database atoms (references to databases) and the task list. Thepredicates declare booking options, transport mode options, andavailable cash at the initial stage. By way of an example, MySQL is thedatabase used herein. Among the two databases, the agent databasecontains the name of the agents (aname) and the charges (charge)associated with the agents for booking a ticket. The flight databasecontains flight information such as the flight mode, flight number,source, destination, fare, start time, finish time, duration of flight,and the number of hops.

The task list defines the task of booking a ticket. The problemdefinition is given below.

(defproblem problem CITY ----------------------State Facts (The logicalatoms and the database atoms) -------------- (  (:import-db mysqlagentDB jdbc:mysql://localhost:3306 user user123  agent) (:import-dbmysql flightDB jdbc:mysql://localhost:3306 user user123 flight)(transport-mode-mod flight train bus) (avail-cash 100000) (choose agent)) --------------Task list-------------------- ( (BookTicket kolkatalondon 30000 flight agent) )

With the domain definition and the problem definition, the plan isgenerated by the planning module. Initially the task list comprises onlyone task: “BookTicket.” The planning module unifies the task method“BookTicket” for the task “BookTicket.” Unification of the task methodfor the task comprises matching a task head of the task with a taskmethod head of the task method. The logical precondition—(choose?p)—associated with the task method “BookTicket” is verified withrespect to the given plan state information comprising the first datasetand the second dataset for (choose agent). So, the uninstantiatedargument list comprising one or more variables of the precondition issubstituted with a value (agent) from the first dataset. The task“BookTicket” is decomposed into the sub-task “agent.” Values of thetasks' arguments (x, y, z, m) are assigned from the task method“BookTicket” argument list and from the precondition verification of thetask method “BookTicket”. The decomposed sub-tasks are added to the tasklist.

Further, the next sub-task is “agent” for which a task method “agent” isunified. Now, for the task method “agent,” the precondition is arestricted database precondition and refers to a table, “agent.” In theprecondition, the restriction is given by sort-by. The restricteddatabase precondition finds an agent name from the “agent” table whosecharge is least. So, the adaptation module executes an equivalent SQLquery provided below.

SELECT*FROM agent ORDER BY charge ASC;

The variables of the decomposed task, that is, the sub-task, areassigned in a similar way of method “BookTicket.” The sub-tasks“set-agent” and “book-via-agent” are added to the task list.

The task “set-agent” is a primitive task. The planning module unifiesthe sub-task “set-agent” with the “set-agent” task operator. Theprecondition associated with the task operator “set-agent” is verifiedby the plan state predicates (avail-cash 100000). In effect, part of the“set-agent” is (deletelist), and the (deletelist) refers to a plan statepredicate (logical atom) such as (avail-cash 100000) deletion. Theaddlist refers to an addition of the predicate ‘avail-cash’ with amodified argument value in the plan state. For example, if the agentselected is of cost 20000, the modified avail-cash value is 80000.Execution of the task operator constitutes unifying a task head with anoperator head, verifying a precondition, and adding and/or deletingfacts from the plan state.

For the next sub-task, “book-via-agent,” the “book-via-agent” taskmethod is unified by the planning module. A precondition associated withthe “book-via-agent” task method is verified by the logical atoms (planstate predicates), such as (transport-mode-mod flight train bus), andthe decomposed sub-task “book-transport-flight” is added to the tasklist. Next, the “book-transport-flight” sub-task is unified with a taskmethod, “book-transport-flight.” The task method has a databaseprecondition restricted by “call.” The database precondition selects anentry from the “flight” table of the database “flightDB” for source ‘x,’destination ‘y’ and fare less than ‘z.’ For the database preconditionfollowing the SQL query is executed.

SELECT*FROM flight where source=x and destination=y and fare <z;

The argument list of the decomposed non-primitive sub-task “book-ticket”is assigned, and the sub-task is added to the task list. The planningmodule unifies the “book-ticket” task operator for the “book-ticket”task. The precondition (avail-cash ?x) associated with the “book-ticket”task operator is verified with respect to the first dataset (predicateplan state). The effect part of the “book-ticket” task operator modifiesthe avail-cash after booking the flight ticket and adds a new predicate(logical atom) stating the mode and booked flight number to the firstdataset. The system 102 terminates after the above step, as no moresub-tasks exist in the task list.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a method 500 for generating a plan to completea task in a computing environment is shown, in accordance with anembodiment of the present subject matter. The method 500 may bedescribed in the general context of computer executable instructions.Generally, computer executable instructions can include routines,programs, objects, components, data structures, procedures, modules,functions, etc., that perform particular functions or implementparticular abstract data types. The method 500 may also be practiced ina distributed computing environment where functions are performed byremote processing devices that are linked through a communicationsnetwork. In a distributed computing environment, computer executableinstructions may be located in both local and remote computer storagemedia, including memory storage devices.

The order in which the method 500 is described is not intended to beconstrued as a limitation, and any number of the described method blockscan be combined in any order to implement the method 500 or alternatemethods. Additionally, individual blocks may be deleted from the method500 without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matterdescribed herein. Furthermore, the method can be implemented in anysuitable hardware, software, firmware, or combination thereof. However,for ease of explanation, in the embodiments described below, the method500 may be considered to be implemented in the above described system102.

Referring to FIG. 5, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, a method (500) for generating a plan to complete a task in acomputing environment is described.

In step 502, the method comprises receiving a problem definition. Theproblem definition comprises a first dataset and a second dataset. Thefirst dataset and the second dataset are associated with the task. Thefirst dataset comprises one or more logical atoms, and the seconddataset comprises one or more database atoms, wherein the one or morelogical atoms are represented in a first schema, and wherein the one ormore database atoms are represented in a second schema. The one or moredatabase atoms are represented with a path to selectively access the oneor more database atoms from the one or more data sources. The one ormore logical atoms and the one or more database atoms are required tocomplete the task. The problem definition further comprises a task list,wherein the task list defines the task. The one or more data sources maybe heterogeneous data sources. The one or more heterogeneous datasources comprise databases, ontologies, application program interfacecalls, and web services.

The representation of the database atoms in the non-predicate-basedschema and the selective access of the database atoms from the one ormore heterogeneous data sources using the path makes the plan statescalable, practical and modular. Cache memory may be used to store thedatabase atoms so fetched. The logical atoms may indicate dynamicallyvarying data and the logical atoms may continually reside in the memoryduring the generation of the plan, whereas the database atoms mayindicate the static data and may be selectively loaded in the memoryonly when required during the generation of the plan, therebyfacilitating optimal utilization of the memory and reducing dataretrieval overhead during the generation of the plan. A connection maybe added to the second dataset to access optimal data associated withthe database atoms selectively, required during planning, by using thepath as represented in the database atoms.

In step 504, the method comprises receiving a domain definition. Thedomain definition comprises a set of task methods, a set of taskoperators, wherein the set of task methods are of non-primitive type andthe set of task operators are of primitive type,

In step 506, the method comprises selecting a task method from the setof task methods or a task operator from the set of task operators bymatching the task with the set of task methods and the set of taskoperators. In one implementation, the planning module 214 selects thetask method from the set of task methods or the task operator from theset of task operators by matching the task with the set of task methodsand the set of task operators. More particularly, the planning module214 selects the task method from the set of task methods or the taskoperator from the set of task operators by matching the task head witheach task method's head from the set of task methods and by matching thetask head with each task operator's head from the set of task operators.

The task method may comprise a first precondition and one or moresub-tasks, wherein the first precondition may be at least one of alogical precondition and a database precondition. The task operator maycomprise a second precondition and an action list. The secondprecondition may be at least one of the logical precondition and thedatabase precondition. The action list may comprise instructions for adeletion or addition of one or more logical atoms or a deletion oraddition of one or more database atoms.

In step 508, the method comprises executing at least one of the taskmethod and the task operator in order to complete the task. In oneimplementation, the adaptation module and the planning module executethe task method or the task operator. The execution of the task methodor the execution of the task operator comprises following steps (steps510-522).

In step 510, the execution of the task method or the execution of thetask operator comprises verifying whether or not a preconditionassociated with one of the task method and the task operator is valid.The precondition is a logical expression of one or more variables. Theprecondition is verified by comparing the one or more variables with theone or more logical atoms or the one or more database atoms in order tomatch the one or more variables with at least one logical atom or atleast one database atom. The comparing of the one or more database atomsis facilitated using the path mentioned in the representation of the oneor more database atoms.

In step 512, the execution of the task method or the execution of thetask operator further comprises assigning the one or more variables withone or more values, when the precondition is valid. The one or morevalues are obtained from the at least one logical atom or the at leastone database atom so matched with the one or more variables.

In step 514, the execution of the task method further comprisesdecomposing the task method into one or more sub-tasks when the taskmethod is selected and the task method precondition is satisfied.

The task method may be decomposed into the one or more sub-tasks, andwherein the task method may indicate an action to be accomplished byexecuting the one or more sub-tasks. The sub-task may be a task methodor a task operator. The task operator may indicate an atomic action tobe accomplished directly without any further decomposition. The methodfurther comprises adding at least one of a logical atom and a databaseatom to the logical atoms and the database atoms respectively, based onthe execution of the task operator.

In step 516, the execution of the task method further comprisesassigning one or more arguments of the task method to the one or moresub-tasks. The task method may be executed by decomposing the taskmethod into the one or more sub-tasks, assigning one or more variablesof the first set of variables of the task method to one or more sub-taskarguments associated with the one or more sub-tasks, and adding the oneor more sub-tasks to the task in order to iteratively execute the one ormore sub-tasks. The task operator may be executed by selecting andmodifying at least one of one or more logical atoms and one or moredatabase atoms.

In step 518, the execution of the task method further comprises addingthe one or more sub-tasks to the task list in order to execute the oneor more sub-tasks.

In one implementation, the adaptation module 216 carries out verifying aprecondition associated with one of the task method and the taskoperator (step 510) and assigning the one or more variables with one ormore values (step 512). The planning module 214 carries out decomposingthe task method into one or more sub-tasks (step 514), assigning one ormore arguments of the task method to the one or more sub-tasks (step516), and adding the one or more sub-tasks to the task list (step 520).

The method 500 further comprises in step 520 executing the one or moresub-tasks by iteratively performing the selecting and the executing ofeach sub-task from the task list. In one implementation, the adaptationmodule 216 and the planning module 214 executes the one or moresub-tasks. The execution of the sub-task may comprise validating atleast one of the first precondition and the second precondition,assigning at least one of the first set of variables and the second setof variables, and either decomposing the task method, assigning at leastone of the first set of variables and the second set of variables,adding one or more sub-tasks to the task, or modifying one or morelogical atoms, or one or more database atoms.

In step 522, the execution of the task operator comprises verifying theprecondition associated with the task operator and if the preconditionis satisfied, modifying the logical atom in the first dataset and/ormodifying the database atom in the second dataset.

Referring to step 502 of the method 500, the first schema is apredicate-based schema, wherein the one or more logical atoms arerepresented using predicate logic, and the second schema is anon-predicate-based schema, wherein the database atoms are representedcomprising the path to access the one or more data sources.

Referring to step 506 of the method 500, when the task operator isselected and the precondition is valid, the method 500 further comprisesmodifying the one or more logical atoms and the one or more databaseatoms, and the modification of the one or more logical atoms and the oneor more database atoms is based on the execution of the task operator.In one implementation, the adaptation module 216 modifies the one ormore logical atoms and the one or more database atoms.

The method 500 further comprises adding a connection to the seconddataset to access data associated with the one or more database atoms byusing the path as represented in the one or more database atoms. Themethod 500 further comprises using the connection from the seconddataset to fetch the data associated with the one or more database atomsby using the path as represented in the one or more database atoms. Themethod 500 further comprises adding new one or more logical atoms to thefirst dataset and adding new one or more database atoms to the seconddataset based on the execution of one of the task operator, wherein thenew one or more logical atoms are not present in the first datasetinitially and the new one or more database atoms are not present in thesecond dataset initially. The method 500 further comprises using cachememory to store the data associated with the one or more database atomsfetched.

The method 500 comprises generating the plan based upon the execution ofthe task and each sub-task from the task list. In one implementation,the planning module 214 generates the plan based upon the execution ofthe task and each sub-task from the task list. The steps of the method(500), such as, the receiving, the selecting, the executing, theverifying, the assigning, the decomposing, the assigning, the adding,the executing, the modifying, the adding the connection, the using theconnection, and the generating are performed by means of a processor.

Although implementations for methods and systems for generating a planto complete a task in a computing environment have been described inlanguage specific to structural features and/or methods, it is to beunderstood that the appended claims are not necessarily limited to thespecific features or methods described. Rather, the specific featuresand methods are disclosed as examples of implementations for generatinga plan to complete a task in a computing environment.

We claim:
 1. A method for optimal representation of a plan state whilegenerating a plan to complete a task in a computing environment, whereinthe optimal representation of the plan state improves efficiency of thecomputing environment through improved utilization of memory andreduction of overhead from data retrieval, the method comprising:providing a processor and a non-transitory memory coupled to saidprocessor, wherein the non-transitory memory comprises programmedinstructions; representing a plan state including one or more tasks, viathe processor and the non-transitory memory, the plan state comprising afirst dataset and a second dataset, wherein the second dataset isreceived from one or more heterogeneous data sources, and wherein thefirst dataset comprises logical atoms represented in a predicate-basedschema, and the second dataset comprises database atoms represented in anon-predicate-based schema, wherein the logical atoms indicatedynamically-varying data to be accessed frequently, and wherein thedatabase atoms indicate static data, and wherein a database atom of thesecond dataset is represented with a path, wherein the path facilitatesselective access of the database atoms from the one or moreheterogeneous data sources; iteratively selecting, via the processor,one or more task methods from a set of predefined task methods and oneor more task operators from a set of predefined task operators, based onthe one or more tasks to be completed, to define one or more selectedtask methods and one or more selected task operators; successivelyexecuting, via the processor, the selected task methods and the selectedtask operators in order to complete the task, wherein the execution ofeach of the selected task methods and each of the selected taskoperators includes: validating a first precondition associated with theselected task method and a second precondition associated with theselected task operator, by matching a first set of variables associatedwith the selected task method and a second set of variables associatedwith the selected task operator, with at least one of the logical atomsand the database atoms, and wherein matching of the database atoms isfacilitated using the path, assigning: if the first precondition isvalid, the first set of variables with a first set of values, and if thesecond precondition is valid, the second set of variables with a secondset of values, wherein the first set of values and the second set ofvalues are obtained from one or more logical atoms of the first datasetand one or more database atoms of the second dataset, so matched withthe first set of variables and the second set of variables respectively,executing: the selected task method using the first set of values, andthe selected task operator using the second set of values; andgenerating, via the processor, a plan based upon the execution of theselected task methods and the selected task operators; wherein at leastone of a logical atom and a database atom is added to the logical atomsand the database atoms respectively, based on the execution of theselected task operator.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the databaseatoms accessed during the executing are stored in a cache memory, andwherein a representation of the database atoms in thenon-predicate-based schema and the selective access of the databaseatoms from the one or more heterogeneous data sources using the pathmakes the plan state scalable, practical and modular.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the logical atoms indicating the dynamically varyingdata continually resides in the memory during the generation of theplan, and wherein the database atoms indicating the static data areselectively loaded in the memory only when required during thegeneration of the plan, thereby facilitating optimal utilization of thememory and reducing data retrieval overhead during the generation of theplan.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more heterogeneousdata sources comprise databases, ontologies, application programinterface calls, and web services.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein theselected task method comprises the first precondition and one or moresub-tasks, wherein the first precondition is at least one of a logicalprecondition and a database precondition, and wherein the selected taskoperator comprises the second precondition and an action list, whereinthe second precondition is at least one of the logical precondition andthe database precondition, and wherein the action list comprisesinstructions for a deletion or an addition of one or more logical atomsor a deletion or an addition of one or more database atoms.
 6. Themethod of claim 5, wherein the selected task method is decomposed intothe one or more sub-tasks, and wherein the selected task methodindicates an action to be accomplished by executing the one or moresub-tasks, and wherein the sub-task is a task method or a task operator,and wherein the task operator indicates atomic action to be accomplisheddirectly without any further decomposition.
 7. The method of claim 6,wherein the selected task method is executed by decomposing the selectedtask method into the one or more sub-tasks, assigning one or morevariables of the first set of variables of the selected task method toone or more sub-task arguments associated with the one or moresub-tasks, and adding the one or more sub-tasks to the task in order toiteratively execute the one or more sub-tasks.
 8. The method of claim 5,wherein the selected task operator is executed by selecting andmodifying at least one of one or more logical atoms and one or moredatabase atoms.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein a connection is addedto the second dataset to selectively access optimal data associated withthe database atoms that is required during planning, by using the pathas represented in the database atoms.
 10. The method of claim 6, whereinthe execution of the sub-task comprises validating at least one of thefirst precondition and the second precondition, assigning at least oneof the first set of variables and the second set of variables, andeither decomposing the selected task method, assigning at least one ofthe first set of variables and the second set of variables, adding oneor more sub-tasks to the task, or modifying one or more logical atoms orone or more database atoms.
 11. A system for optimal representation of aplan state while generating a plan to complete a task in a computingenvironment, wherein the optimal representation of the plan stateimproves efficiency of the computing environment through improvedutilization of memory and reduction of overhead from data retrieval, thesystem comprising: a processor; a memory coupled to the processor,wherein the processor is capable of executing programmed instructionsstored in the memory for: representing a plan state including one ormore tasks, via the processor, the plan state comprising a first datasetand a second dataset associated with the one or more tasks, wherein thesecond dataset is received from one or more heterogeneous data sources,and wherein the first dataset comprises logical atoms represented in apredicate-based schema, and the second dataset comprises database atomsrepresented in a non-predicate-based schema, wherein the logical atomsindicate dynamically-varying data to be accessed frequently, and whereinthe database atoms indicate static data, and wherein a database atom ofthe second dataset is represented with a path, wherein the pathfacilitates selective access of the database atoms from the one or moreheterogeneous data sources; iteratively selecting, via the processor,one or more task methods from a set of predefined task methods and oneor more task operators from a set of predefined task operators, bymatching the task method and the task operator with a task to becompleted to define one or more selected task methods and one or moreselected task operators; successively executing, via the processor, theselected task methods and the selected task operators, in order tocomplete the task, wherein the execution of each of the selected taskmethods and each of the selected task operators includes: validating afirst precondition associated with the selected task method and a secondprecondition associated with the selected task operator, by matching afirst set of variables associated with the selected task method and asecond set of variables associated with the selected task operator, withat least one of the logical atoms and the database atoms, and whereinmatching of the database atoms is facilitated using the path, assigning:if the first precondition is valid, the first set of variables with afirst set of values, and if the second precondition is valid, the secondset of variables with a second set of values, wherein the first set ofvalues and the second set of values are obtained from one or morelogical atoms of the first dataset and one or more database atoms of thesecond dataset, so matched with the first set of variables and thesecond set of variables respectively, executing: the selected taskmethod using the first set of values and the selected task operatorusing the second set of values; and generating, via the processor, aplan based upon the execution of the selected task methods and theselected task operators; wherein at least one of a logical atom and adatabase atom is added to the logical atoms and the database atomsrespectively, based on the execution of the selected task operator. 12.The system of claim 11, wherein the database atoms accessed during theexecuting are stored in a cache memory, and wherein a representation ofthe database atoms in the non-predicate-based schema and the selectiveaccess of the database atoms from the one or more heterogeneous datasources using the path makes the plan state scalable, practical andmodular.
 13. The system of claim 11, wherein the logical atomsindicating the dynamically varying data continually resides in thememory during the generation of the plan, and wherein the database atomsindicating the static data are selectively loaded in the memory onlywhen required during the generation of the plan, thereby facilitatingoptimal utilization of the memory and reducing data retrieval overheadduring the generation of the plan.
 14. The system of claim 11, whereinthe selected task method is decomposed into one or more sub-tasks, andwherein the selected task method indicates an action to be accomplishedby executing the one or more sub-tasks, and wherein the sub-task is atask method or a task operator, and wherein the task operator indicatesan atomic action to be accomplished directly without any furtherdecomposition.
 15. A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying aprogram executable in a computing device for optimal representation of aplan state while generating a plan to complete a task in a computingenvironment, wherein the optimal representation of the plan stateimproves efficiency of the computing environment through improvedutilization of memory and reduction of overhead from data retrieval, theprogram comprising: a program code for representing a plan stateincluding one or more tasks, the plan state comprising a first datasetand a second dataset, associated with a task, wherein the second datasetis received from one or more heterogeneous data sources, and wherein thefirst dataset comprises logical atoms represented in a predicate-basedschema, and the second dataset comprises database atoms represented in anon-predicate-based schema, wherein the logical atoms indicatedynamically varying data to be accessed frequently, and wherein thedatabase atoms indicate static data, and wherein a database atom of thesecond database is represented with a path, wherein the path facilitatesselective access of the database atoms from the one or moreheterogeneous data sources; a program code for iteratively selecting oneor more task methods from a set of predefined task methods and one ormore task operators from a set of predefined task operators, by matchingthe task method and the task operator with the task to be completed, todefine one or more selected task methods and one or more selected taskoperators; a program code for successively executing the selected taskmethods and the selected task operators in order to complete the task,wherein the execution of each of the selected task methods and each ofthe selected task operators of the task operators includes: validating afirst precondition associated with the selected task method and a secondprecondition associated with the selected task operator, by matching afirst set of variables associated with the selected task method and asecond set of variables associated with the task operator, with at leastone of the logical atoms and the database atoms, and wherein matching ofthe database atoms is facilitated using the path, assigning: if thefirst precondition is valid, the first set of variables with a first setof values, and if the second precondition is valid, the second set ofvariables with a second set of values, wherein the first set of valuesand the second set of values are obtained from one or more logical atomsof the first dataset and one or more database atoms of the seconddataset, so matched with the first set of variables and the second setof variables respectively, executing: the selected task method using thefirst set of values and the selected task operator using the second setof values; and a program code for generating the plan based upon theexecution of the selected task methods and the selected task operators;wherein at least one of a logical atom and a database atom is added tothe logical atoms and the database atoms respectively, based on theexecution of the selected task operator.